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Read John 14:1-11 and see if you can identify what the Scottish biblical scholar William Barclay called “the most staggering thing Jesus ever said.” What Jesus said is not just staggering, it is steadying. It helps us trust God our Father and gives us confidence as we go through life’s many trials and uncertainties – and do we ever need that!

During this series, we have repeatedly seen how good, kind, and loving God is. He’s better than we ever dreamed! But what about when things go sideways? Is he still good, kind, and loving when the thing we most fear happens? And what are we supposed to do then?

To have a cherished thing returned after a long absence is a cause for celebration. That is just what Jesus says in Luke 15, only there we discover that we are the cherished thing! God cherishes us and wants us to be with him, no matter how long ago we hit bottom. Luke 15 shows us it is never too late to come home.

Many countries have a national coat of arms, often featuring magnificent beasts and birds, which convey courage and strength. The Australian coat of arms features two animals: The emu, a graceless bird that can’t even fly, and a kangaroo. Courage and strength are hardly the first things one thinks of when seeing these creatures, so why did Australia choose those two animals? Because they share a common characteristic with which the Australians identify: Both the emu and the kangaroo can only move forward, not back. People who are baptized have chosen the emu and the kangaroo for their coat of arms. They are going forward with Christ. They have made their decision, and they will not go back!

God is the Forgiver: he can forgive anyone – even me; even you. And because we are the Forgiven, we are called to forgive, just as God does. “Forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you” (Colossians 3:13). To forgive like God does puts us in a place where remarkable things can happen in our lives.

Our idea of God can get distorted. We can start to see him as against us, not for us; as a taker, not a giver. But God is for us, not against us (Romans 8:31-39). He is not just a giver, he is The Giver.

God made people to respond to rewards and – what a surprise! – giving out rewards is one of his favorite things to do. If you think of God as someone who is always ready to criticize, think again! In our text, Jesus reveals a very different kind of God – one who loves to hand out rewards.

Knowing God changes the way we look at the world, at ourselves, and at others. Getting to know God helps us relax. Jesus revealed to us that his Father is paying attention. He knows our needs – better than we do – and he always cares for his own.

In your opinion, which of the following statements best describes God? (1.) God is annoyed with things in general and with me in particular. (2.) God is the most joyful person anywhere, and wants me to share his joy. (3.) God has important things to think about and I am not one of them. How you answered the above question after thinking about it matters little. What you assume to be true when you’re not thinking about it matters immensely. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus is full of joy and loves sharing his joy with others.